'Mais Madame, vous etes surement la bienvenue!' And
this she said so that everyone might hear, which, al-
though it should not have done any such thing, did
in fact make her client feel rather important.
It chanced that there was still room in the Cafe,
and Mere Melanie found a convenient table; then she
plumped herself down at Madame Roustan's side,
and Madame Roustan ordered a groseille. The little
violinist with the hump on his back was fiddling,
but not many couples were responding, for the night
was almost too hot for them to dance — so hot that
whenever Mere Melanie moved she broke out into
rivers of perspiration:
'And how is your very dear child?' she enquired,
€I see him sometimes when he plays with his comrades
— mais oui — I could stand and watch him for hours.
A fine boy, I think him exceedingly handsome!3
Madame Roustan savoured the iced groseille slowly,
being careful to cock her fourth and fifth fingers, and
after she had taken three elegant sips: cMy Jan is as
usual, quite well, thank God — and just now he is
to be congratulated. As you no doubt have heard
he is going to be a priest, and when he is older he
will go to Versailles — to the Grand Seminaire at
Ver-saiHes, the best in France, which is thanks to
Madame la Gomtesse de Berac.5
'La Comtesse de Berac!' exclaimed Mere Melanie,
who was genuinely overcome with amazement, 'But
surely that is a very great name?'
'Without doubt a great name,5 agreed Madame
Roustan.
And now, comfortably launched, she explained at
vast length all that Jan might hope to gain through
this lady, who, hearing of his piety, his talents and
his charm, had promised to provide for his clerical
future. And Mere Melanie listened with such obvious
respect that Madame Roustan's heart warmed towards
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